At what point are impact sockets necessary?

[Jason280]

I've started using a lot of battery powered tools in the shop, primarily several different impacts. Question is, at what point are impact sockets absolutely necessary? I understand that with the majority of 18v (and some of the newer Milwaukee 12v compact 3/8") impacts, chrome moly is required...but what about the smaller stuff?

I have 12v 1/4 & 3/8" Milwaukee ratcheting impacts, as well as a Snap On CT761 3/8" impact that I have been using with regular chrome sockets...is that just playing with fire?

 

[protegeV]

With a 3/8 I wouldn't worry about it a ton. I've used chrome sockets on an impact for YEARS with no issues

 

[ItsNemo]

They're not expensive...I can't see a reason not to always use impact sockets with impact drivers/wrenches.

 

[Climatecreator]

Agreed.

They can be had cheaply https://amzn.to/2CURWg5

not to mention harbour freight has decent ones as well.


CC

 

[pbon]

When you find you are doing enough impacting to strip your standard sockets and then the bolts you are tightening. Until then don’t worry. For occasional impact use, regular sockets get you by.

 

[General Geoff]

When you start getting peppered with chrome slivers popping off your sockets.

 

[unslow1]

When you start getting peppered with chrome slivers popping off your sockets.

My first thought was wear safety glasses and gloves.

 

[Fedwrench]

a complete set from either grey pneumatic or sunex doesn't cost that much so, i would get them now.

You could wait until you start seeing the edges around the chrome socket's female square drive start peen and show impact wear but, why mess up your chrome sockets. Not to mention that your impact anvil would prefer impact sockets over chrome.

 

[Rabid Badger]

Question is, at what point are impact sockets absolutely necessary?

When you start using an impact.

Seriously though, do you want to find out when you've crossed the line by getting a face full of shrapnel? Impact sockets are cheap. Buy some.

 

[Tonyuk]

Just buy a cheap set from ebay, £20 will get you a good one.

 

[mdog892001]

When your sockets explode into pieces then you know


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[Mr_B]

Don't have to be cr-mo, cr-v impact just as suitable .
Main problem with chromed sockets is they tempered harder, you will wallow out drive squares and likely have chrome plating issues in time and a few crscked if hitting them hard .
Best getting into habit of using impact grade sockets as much as physically possible .

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Well; lets say I would not come on a public forum and say it is ok to Rufusily use chrome sockets on an impact wrench. I totally agree with the Members who recommend using impact sockets.

 

[bczygan]

At what point are impact sockets necessary?


When you use an impact.

Bill

 

[JoeMcGov]

Post #9 and post #14.

You also didn't identify if your chromes are 6 point or 12 point.

 

[cherrybomb]

You have such a great selection of impacts.For your own safety,decide what you use frequently.Research those and buy.If that brand works for you,that is a hurdle you've overcome.You will come to realize the positives of the right tool for the job.You will save the beatings your chrome sockets have been taking,and replacing.Lots of good advice on potential injury on this site.Safety doesn't cost,it pays.Shortcuts seem to bite a guy,when he improvises.

 

[BK13]

They're not expensive...I can't see a reason not to always use impact sockets with impact drivers/wrenches.

Yep, and new faces/eyes tend to be pretty expensive.

 

[pbon]

I disagree with the fear factor. I have never had a regular socket fail when using an impact. I can’t recall ruining one either. I have full sets of impact sockets and use them sometimes. But they are bigger and bulkier and I often use regular sockets instead. I am just a diyer with a shop and lift. If I did this full time, I would probably get tired of damaging my sockets — I agree that over time impacting regular sockets will cause them to strip and they may damage bolt heads or nuts. Of course impact sockets can also damage bolt heads and nuts.

 

[Bad Habit]

So then, why not the reverse, use impacts for hand tools?

 

[protegeV]

So then, why not the reverse, use impacts for hand tools?

I've done that. It's no problem.

 

[pbon]

Sure, you can use the bigger heavier bulkier impact sockets even where standard sockets would be fine. I do some work where the impact sockets are hard to fit in the space available.

 

[HazetMatt]

Has anyone here had a chrome socket explode? I use some chrome sockets on my impact in places where I need a longer or thin walled socket to fit. Obviously I'm wearing safety glasses either way, so what difference does it make besides the lifespan of the socket?

 

[CR888]

Why damage your drive anvils on impacts tools using chrome, why risk getting chrome stuck in your eye. Decent impact sockets are cheaper than ever before, just buy some and use them. You may get away with using chrome but then again you may not!

 

[Asport]

One of the annoying things about the cheaper sets is they skip sizes. HF metric 13 piece set skips 11mm, 12mm, 16mm, 20mm, 23mm and so on. I always seem to need the in-between sizes and I have to use a chrome socket.

 

[trackwelder]

I have and still use chrome sockets on occasion. I used chrome sockets for many years and the only issue was deforming the drive end. Sometimes I use a flat bladed screwdriver as a pry bar. Socket extensions become punches to drive out bolts with a hammer. At some point I have used most tools as a hammer. When **** is broke down in the field you do what’s needed to get it fixed.

 

[doublearon98]

Chrome socket are more brittle than impact sockets, i.e. they can explode under high impacts. Impact sockets are not to expensive and they are worth it.

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[plc268]

Impact sockets also usually have a little more mass to them, so when your impact... impacts, it hits with more force.

I'm just a home gamer, and I'll use chrome sockets in a pinch, but I try to stay with impact sockets on an impact.

 

[Mr_B]

I have and still use chrome sockets on occasion. I used chrome sockets for many years and the only issue was deforming the drive end. Sometimes I use a flat bladed screwdriver as a pry bar. Socket extensions become punches to drive out bolts with a hammer. At some point I have used most tools as a hammer. When **** is broke down in the field you do what’s needed to get it fixed.

I agree with this in reason and when needs to be done then no problem but it bad habit constantly use chromes on impacts, lighter duty tasks no problem but on stubborn fixings where you rocking it back and forth with a hard hitting impact with 125psi+ feed and your chrome sockets soon become fookered scrap .
pretty decent designed sets of taiwan cr-v impact sockets start around 30bucks a rail set so not much reason not have a set and using them when you can .
I've split a chrome on impacts, seen a guy with a cut face from it too .
Is pretty rare it going shatter but indeed a real risk .
Most annoying thing is wallowed out drive squares and fookered chrome .
Lot of used sets you see on eBay been hammered on the air impact hence why they shifting them .
Sure do it when needs be done but not to be lazy ...

 

[CoogarXR]

I used my chrome sockets when I first got my impact. I didn't have any explode, but I did "butterfly" the square end so bad it wouldn't hold onto a ratchet anymore. And this was a USA Craftsman.

So I bought some impacts.

 

[countryroad82]

Please tell me this is in jest or to just get your thread count up.

 

[Farmall450]

The same point where you need an impact.

 

[Elvie84]

I have seen a lot of cracked chrome sockets being used on impact wrenches why not buy a set of impacts ?


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[Jaysreal]

I have 12v 1/4 & 3/8" Milwaukee ratcheting impacts, as well as a Snap On CT761 3/8" impact that I have been using with regular chrome sockets...is that just playing with fire?

Impact sockets are absolutely necessary now! But it appears you may have some confusion, (or im the one with confusion) M12 cordless ratchets do not impact. You might be referring to M12 impact guns but I'm guessing you mean the cordless ratchets. Milwaukee does also have an m18 right angle impact gun.

You can use chrome on the cordless ratchets all day, no worry, but when you step up to an actual "IMPACT" tool, you need impact sockets.



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[Professional Tool User]

Impact sockets are designed to be less brittle and easier on the impact tool and are less likely to shatter.

 

[Jason280]

But it appears you may have some confusion, (or im the one with confusion) M12 cordless ratchets do not impact. You might be referring to M12 impact guns but I'm guessing you mean the cordless ratchets

I may be confused, both are the Milwaukee cordless M12 ratcheting ratchets.

 

[submariner]

I may be confused, both are the Milwaukee cordless M12 ratcheting ratchets.

Either way, I never thought a 12v tool was powerful enough to damage a chrome socket. I'm happy to be proven wrong

 

[Duster346]

At what point are impact sockets necessary?


When you use an impact.

Bill

Exactly.. such a hard concept for folks to grasp.

 

[Jason280]

I never thought a 12v tool was powerful enough to damage a chrome socket. I'm happy to be proven wrong

That was my thought process as well, at least with respect to some of the less powerful 12v impacts. I understand that you can start damaging the square end of the socket, and that impact drives don't necessarily like the harder chrome, but are you actually going to see a catastrophic failure? Take the Snap On Ct761 for example, its only rated for around 120ft-lbs of torque...is that enough to really cause an issue for occasional use in a home shop? It would be one thing if you were hammering away every day in a professional shop, but not quite the same for typical home use.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

My Milwaukee high torque seems to split the seams leaving a razor sharp edge on some of the chrome sockets. Others get kinda bell shaped.

 

[pbon]

As someone who regularly uses standard sockets with impacts for occasional non repetitive work, I agree using them with 1200 lbs torque impacts is not a good idea.